Rockefeller Foundation Gives $2 Million to Help Cities Promote Volunteerism

Eligibility
To be considered for the two-year Cities of Service Leadership Grant, a city's
mayor must be a member of the Cities of Service coalition and have signed and
agreed to implement the coalition's Declaration of Service. Mayors interested
in joining the Cities of Service Coalition should visit
www.citiesofservice.org for registration. In addition, all applicant cities
must have at least 100,000 residents according to the 2000 census and be home to at least one community college or a four-year public or private university.

The Application
Applications must be submitted by the city's Office of the Mayor and should
describe how they will achieve each of the following:

• Conduct an assessment of existing service levels and stakeholderswithin the city, so that a benchmark can be established for comparison purposes moving forward.
• Produce a coordinated citywide plan to increase service through a planning process that involves existing service and volunteer-reliant nonprofits, local volunteer management agencies, and local funders, if applicable.
• Meaningfully engage local universities in the development, implementation, and support of the service plan.
• Appoint a city Chief Service Officer who reports directly to the mayor or a deputy mayor or other appropriate designee (include organization chart).
• Identify at least two existing local high priority areas in which to conduct an assessment of existing service levels and stakeholderswithin the city, so that a benchmark can be established for comparison purposes moving forward.
• Produce a coordinated citywide plan to increase service through a planning process that involves existing service and volunteer-reliant nonprofits, local volunteer management agencies, and local funders, if applicable.
• Meaningfully engage local universities in the development, implementation, and support of the service plan.
• Appoint a city Chief Service Officer who reports directly to the mayor or a deputy mayor or other appropriate designee (include organization chart).Identify at least two existing local high priority areas in which to target volunteerism, and demonstrate how the city will use service to advance existing or enhanced work in these challenge areas, including proposed outcomes and plans for measurement.